Furious at my vet!

[Plunge]

Friday, Slinky our 5 year old doxie, is having back problems. So, I take her to the vet who watches her walk, feels her back and then prescribes an anti-inflammatory. All is well in the world. I don't see my normal vet, she is on vacation, so I see a sub. The sub is a 60 year old, gentle man who impresses me with the care in which he handled Slinky.

Saturday morning, Slinky is FAR worse than she was the day before. She is no longer walking unless I force her to with a command. And then her back feet and all screwy. She can't lie down. She is sitting and holding her head in the air. She is in extreme pain and refuses all fluids or food.

I call my vet and set an appointment for 11:00 AM. At 10:00 AM the vet calls, the one I saw before and asks me what Slinky is doing differently. I explain the symptoms and he says as long as she can still move her back legs, there is nothing else I can do, don't bring her in.

So I don't.

At 1:00 AM this morning (Sunday) Slinky can't sleep and is crying non-stop. I can't take it. I force her with a command into a crate (she is well trained and even in extreme pain will not ignore a command), and rush her to the Pet Urgent Care.

The vet there examines her and immediately hospitalizes her. He explains that Slinky has progressed from a stage 1 to a stage 2 disc injury. He shows me this by folding her back paws over and they don't flip back. She has lost that reflex. She still has it in her front paws. They quickly insert and IV and start her on saline, strong anti-inflammatories, steroids and, blessed of all, pain medication. I see the immediate relief in Slinky's eyes.

I ask the vet if I had over-reacted by bringing her to urgent care (very expensive *sigh*) and explained what the other vet has said. You could see the near unbelief in his eyes that a vet would have me explain what I had said about Slinky over the phone and not want to see her immediately. He told me that by Monday Slinky could have been paralyzed and that I had done the right thing. He asked me for the vet's name and I gave it to him, he said he would be contacting him directly.

Slinky should be home Monday ($500 later at estimate). My regular vet should be back next week and she and I are going to have a long talk. According to the urgent care vet, Slinky will be needing back surgery, probably during the summer. That's fine, I wouldn't think of giving her any less care than I would my daughter, she is part of the family. He even told me the best place in Utah to have it done and that it is a flat $2000 fee. I'm grateful to this man.

I plan to let my normal vet know that if that other vet is ever used again while she is gone she has lost this client, and I'm a good client! GAHHHH... I'm still furious!!!!

[jimeez]

Very frustrating indeed. :banghead: But at least you were finally able to see someone that got you guys pointed in the right direction and you know what is wrong now. No more guessing. But it appears to me your normal vet should have seen this right away.

I am guessing you'll be looking for a new vet?

[Plunge]

Well, my normal vet was on vacation, this was a substitute. So, I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and talk with her about it. If she is going to continue to all that substitute to be used I will be switching vets.

[Plunge]

What is killing me is I let my puppy suffer that much longer. I've never seen her in such pain and she has gone through some, what I consider significant pain in her short little life. She gets pancreitis occasionally and that is extremely painful. Yet, what I saw last night just tore me up inside. She was crying and looking at me with almost wild eyes seeming to beg me to do something about the pain and I did nothing trusting the vet that she would get better. At least I got to see the relief as they IV'd her and the pain meds hit. She fell asleep before I had left, exhausted from the pain.

[jimeez]

Ahh, my apologies. When I first read it I thought your normal vet saw Slinky first then the sub saw her the second time. Yep, definitely talk with your regular vet first. No need to look yet. It is still frustrating regardless.

I wouldn't think of giving her any less care than I would my daughter, she is part of the family.I think in many ways we form stronger bonds with our pets than we do with some human members of our families. Call me crazy...

[Plunge]

I think in many ways we form stronger bonds with our pets than we do with some human members of our families. Call me crazy...

I far prefer spending time with my dog than certain members of the extended family. :)

[MNeedham73]

LOL Plunge...I can relate to that.

Glad to hear your pup is doing better and I can understand your frustration with how long it took.

I'd be screaming at the vet that said there was nothing he could do, if it were me. You don't screw with my pets :)

[cdw]

Just because someone has a degree it doesn't mean they graduated in the top of their class. I'm surprised you didn't call the AH back and give him a piece of your mind.
I'm glad your little cutie is doing better!

[Plunge]

Damn, Slinky has to have surgery on her back. This sucks. Will see my normal vet in the morning to make arrangements. Will probably send her to a specialist in Salt Lake City to have it done.

[MNeedham73]

Ouch, I don't envy you and Slinky having to go through that, Scott.

Myself and my zoo here (2 dogs + 3 cats= zoo lol) send our best wishes for an uneventful surgery and a quick and speedy recovery for your pup :)

[Plunge]

Ouch, I don't envy you and Slinky having to go through that, Scott.

Myself and my zoo here (2 dogs + 3 cats= zoo lol) send our best wishes for an uneventful surgery and a quick and speedy recovery for your pup :)

Thanks. We'll see the vet in 2 hours. I couldn't sleep last night much thinking about it. I think I got about 2 hours of sleep. gah.

[jimeez]

Best of luck to you , Plunge. I am sure all will go well.

[Plunge]

We still are in limbo. My dogs surgeon, rated the best in Utah, just called (11:30 pm) and basically said he has no idea what is wrong with my puppy. They did a milogram before surgery to know exactly where to operate and nothing bad enough to operate on showed up.

So, her rear legs won't work right and we still don't know why.

She is on very powerful anti-inflammatories and steroids tonight and she will be re-evaluated tomorrow afternoon.

At that point, if she is no better, he wants to schedule an MRI, $1500. ouch.

Right now we are wait and see.

This is killing me!!!!

[Arc]

I'm really sorry about your dog. And too have such problems at her young age. It sucks to have our "kids" in pain and hurting.

The MRI stand a high statistical probability of discovering anything wrong in the area viewed. Comparing it to the milogram is impossible so beyond it is the MRI.

Dang, sorry too about the cost although I know that you like I would pay any about of money for our "pets" if we had it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

The "Rocket", (Rocky my cat"), saids his grettings and best wishes to Slinky. He really likes dogs and they like him. Always has been that way during his 18 years.

[Plunge]

The vets have decided to keep her knocked out for now and continue to administer the meds. I guess they would upset her stomach too much to keep her awake. They will re-evaluate her Wed. afternoon.

This is killing me, but especially my wife and daughter. Not much sleep was had in my house last night.

[cdw]

Awww, the little cutie! She's very lucky to be with people that can afford what you are doing. I wouldn't have the funds and I don't know what the vet would do once I told him that.
Awww, the little cutie! Lets all hope the meds handle it!

By the way...what did your vet say about the substitute doctor?

[Plunge]

Awww, the little cutie! She's very lucky to be with people that can afford what you are doing. I wouldn't have the funds and I don't know what the vet would do once I told him that.
Awww, the little cutie! Lets all hope the meds handle it!

By the way...what did your vet say about the substitute doctor?

To be blunt, I don't have the money to do this. I just look at the vet and say that's fine.

We've always had an account to pay for Slinky's medical, but we only had $3,000 in it. We've spent $1000 that first day and subsequent weekend and then Monday before ever getting her to the surgeon. Surgeon said it would be $2,000 for the surgery including the milogram so we were still on track except for follow-up. Now we are looking at the $1500 MRI and just shaking our heads as I try to figure out how to pay it.

We were quite comfortable but my recent health difficulties have really knocked us back. I lost a lot of clients and am just now getting back a bit into the game of life.

So, I'll keep telling the vet yes and then we'll figure out how to get him paid.

Oh, the other vet will never be returning.

[cdw]

******ahhhhh******* you got him fired! Holy shitzola! :rofl:

[jfcjrus]

We still are in limbo. My dogs surgeon, rated the best in Utah, just called (11:30 pm) and basically said he has no idea what is wrong with my puppy. They did a milogram before surgery to know exactly where to operate and nothing bad enough to operate on showed up.

So, her rear legs won't work right and we still don't know why.

She is on very powerful anti-inflammatories and steroids tonight and she will be re-evaluated tomorrow afternoon.

At that point, if she is no better, he wants to schedule an MRI, $1500. ouch.

Right now we are wait and see.

This is killing me!!!!

The vets have decided to keep her knocked out for now and continue to administer the meds. I guess they would upset her stomach too much to keep her awake. They will re-evaluate her Wed. afternoon.

This is killing me, but especially my wife and daughter. Not much sleep was had in my house last night.
Not for not, pal, but ONLY the MRI gave any of my docs a clue as to why my pup Duncan was losing the use of his rear legs.
We noticed this loss over a couple of years, and no vet docs could figure out what was going on.
MY only regret was that we didn't then insist on having the MRI done, years ago, and <i>maybe</i> that would have prevented a lot of the damage that was done by the 'spinal cyst' that the MRI revealed.
Which would have saved him some grief, and damage, we suspect.
We blame ourselves for not being more informed, and insistent.

My point is that, when your vet and the 'experts' say they don't know, you've GOT to start questioning the hell out of them!

"You don't know what's wrong, Doc? Why not? Why haven't you done an MRI? Don't you think that might help you figure out what's wrong? Without the drugs, I KNOW my pup's in pain, so what's with this let's see how it goes? Come on Doc, if at all possible, I want this fixed, and I don't care about costs! Tell me, what do you need done, to help my pup! Do you understand what I'm saying? Don't give me this shit about waiting to see how things are tomorrow! Tell me what you need to do to fix this, and we'll do it!"

Remember Plunge, 1/2 of today's Vet Docs graduated in the bottom 1/2 of their class.
Don't be too patient, and trusting, waiting for answers, like we were.
It could be very detrimental for your pup.

Sometimes ya gotta light some fire, kick some ass. ;)
Regards,

[Plunge]

Thanks, your words are too true.

[Plunge]

Slinky is having her MRI tonight, we are waiting on pins and needles...

[Arc]

Slinky is having her MRI tonight, we are waiting on pins and needles...


We ALL are looking forward to and anticipating the best possible news tomorrow Plunge.

There are no guarantees but the MRI will pick up just about anything in detail other than bone that it looks at.

Keep us posted and lets hope if Slinky needs treatment she will be able to get it as quick as possible.

[Plunge]

We ALL are looking forward to and anticipating the best possible news tomorrow Plunge.

There are no guarantees but the MRI will pick up just about anything in detail other than bone that it looks at.

Keep us posted and lets hope if Slinky needs treatment she will be able to get it as quick as possible.


Thanks,

Should let you know, Slinky's best friend is a cat! Belongs to a neighbor and usually joins us when we go on walks.

[Plunge]

Doc called, herniated disc. Slinky is in surgery right now with a 90% chance of TOTAL recovery!!!! We are so relieved and excited! We were thinking the worst.

[Arc]

Doc called, herniated disc. Slinky is in surgery right now with a 90% chance of TOTAL recovery!!!! We are so relieved and excited! We were thinking the worst.

Yo Slinky! Just told Rocket who did a celebratory lap around the bed and behind the dresser.

Grrrrrrrrrrreat news!

[Plunge]

Some photos of Slinky the wonder pup from Christmas.

[MNeedham73]

Great news, Plunge!

My pups both just let out a celebratory howl for you and Slinky ;)

[jimeez]

Wow! Fantastic news. So good to hear!

[Plunge]

Talked with the surgeon this morning around 9:00 AM. Slinky was awake and moving around. He said she can come home tomorrow and should be back to her old self within 2 weeks.

We have adjusted the home while she was gone adding steps to get up to areas where she used to jump.

[Elspeth]

Thats wonderful Plunge!!! Give your baby a hug from me!

[SixofNine]

Thats wonderful Plunge!!! Give your baby a hug from me!

But don't squeeze too hard, not for the next two weeks or so. :)

Great news!

[jfcjrus]

Talked with the surgeon this morning around 9:00 AM. Slinky was awake and moving around. He said she can come home tomorrow and should be back to her old self within 2 weeks.

We have adjusted the home while she was gone adding steps to get up to areas where she used to jump.
Good news, whew! :)

Lots of chicken&rice soup and ground beef for the patient, eh?
(not to spoil her, but you've simply got to keep up that protein intake up for a good recovery, right? ;))

So far so good! :)
Again, Whew!

Regards,

[Plunge]

Slinky is home. She is bedridden for 2 weeks except to eat and go potty. She already walks 100x better than when we took her in!

Her tummy isn't doing so hot with the meds so she gets rice and chicken broth to eat for now.

So, the saga ends, $5000 and a week later.

Oh, she had a fully herniated disc and was bleeding internally as the herniation ruptured a blood vessel which was compounding the pressure on the spine.

[jfcjrus]

{snip}Oh, she had a fully herniated disc and was bleeding internally as the herniation ruptured a blood vessel which was compounding the pressure on the spine.
Ouch!

What finally gave the doc's the clue?
Did she have the MRI?
Just curious.

Oh, by the way, although chicken&rice soup is the standard fare after surgery for the sensitive stomach, I've found that little snacks of roast beef (sliced deli-thin) doesn't do any harm, and gets that protein intake back to where it should be. ;)
(hey, what's another $20 after five grand?)

Regards,

[Plunge]

Ouch!

What finally gave the doc's the clue?
Did she have the MRI?
Just curious.


The MRI. She had it Wed. night and the operated that night.

Slinky can't eat beef. It throws her immediately into a pancreatis attack. Weird, but that's my puppy.

[cdw]

Awww.. the little cutie! She so must love you guys! Enjoy.

[Plunge]

Heh... Here is Slinky this AM. She was taking a drink about once a minute or so, just one slurp.

She is already much better, walking straight, if not far.

[Arc]

Heh... Here is Slinky this AM. She was taking a drink about once a minute or so, just one slurp.

She is already much better, walking straight, if not far.

And she of course just hates all the constant love, attention, and affection being lavished upon her right? :)

[jfcjrus]

Heh... Here is Slinky this AM. She was taking a drink about once a minute or so, just one slurp.

She is already much better, walking straight, if not far.
What's hard is you don't know what she's thinking!
It could be, "Hey boss, what the hell just happened, what did you do to me, are you pissed at me or what?"

It's tough to do the right thing for your pup, when you have to mess them up pretty good to do it. ;)

But, so far so good, and she'll soon be back to her fiesty self and all will be forgiven. :)

Good job, Plunge.
Regards,

[Elspeth]

Heh... Here is Slinky this AM. She was taking a drink about once a minute or so, just one slurp.

She is already much better, walking straight, if not far.


aaaawwww what a little cutie!!!!

I am very glad she is doing better and soon she will be back to her old self

[Plunge]

Slinky wants to be her normal old self again even though her body isn't ready. We are having to gate her into a small area to keep her in her bed. I'm glad she wants to bark and play, but she just isn't ready.

Here is a look at her surgery area and just how much they shaved!

PS - I'll bet those 17 staples hurt like a bitch when they remove them!

[jimeez]

Very good signs. So glad to hear she's making a good recovery. That is a lot of staples for such a small dog. She looks quite comfortable....and lucky to have the "owners" she has.

[jfcjrus]

Here is a look at her surgery area and just how much they shaved!
Yea, they sure do give themselves a lot of working room don't they?
Just don't start calling her 'baldy', and she'll be ok! :)
PS - I'll bet those 17 staples hurt like a bitch when they remove them!
Nope, it's nothing more than someone mildly 'pinching' you, I KNOW that for a fact! ;)

So, so far so good eh?

Regards,

[cdw]

Yeah, really! Her bed cover is nicer than mine! :rofl:

I'm so happy she's recovering Plunge. Gives you guys a chance to just relax and not worry.

[Plunge]

Slinky had her staples out today. All but one came out without problem. The one stuck and took a bit to remove it but Slinky handled it well.

The surgeon was SHOCKED at Slinky's improvement. He was so pleased he took her to the back area to show the other doctors and technicians. He said she is where he expected her to be at 3 months, not 2 weeks. She has some slight reflex problem left in her left rear foot, but it should continue to improve.

All in all, we are pleased with the results!

[MNeedham73]

Great news, Plunge! Thanks for the update :)

[cdw]

Wow, the dogs fine, the wife's home and recovering! Things are on an upswing!!
YAY!